Telling stories with data is a growing area for journalism and there is already a strong community around Data Driven Journalism (DDJ). I’m not journalist, by day I’m a Learning Technology Advisor for JISC CETIS, but my role does allow me to explore how data can be used within education....continue reading

Edinburgh; Friday 15th June 2012 A great project came to life thanks to Jennifer Jones and David McGillivray. They brought upon a project they thought wouldn’t be as successful as it is today. They opened the opportunity to people that want to be involved with media, journalism, photography, events and wish to share news or stories with others to do what is necessary to feel like a journalist. I was part of this project and I quote: “as long as there is a story to share Citizen Relay reporters will be there”. It took time and effort of participants and fellow reporters. Citizen Relay brought good chemistry amongst the reporters. Everyone was very enthusiastic about getting excellent stories and enjoying a hobby. Certainly it was an opportunity for people to engage, share information and have fun. This time it was tracking the Olympic Torch. The Olympics haven’t finished, but will...continue reading

[View the story “#citizenrelay: Day 8 – Edinburgh to Berwick” on Storify] #citizenrelay: Day 8 – Edinburgh to Berwick The last day of torch relay in Scotland saw the convoy move from Edinburgh to the Borders. Again, a fantastic selection of content was created today, so keep an eye on...continue reading

Another busy day on Citizen Relay - today the torch covered a very populous area and ended up in the capital. Lots of fantastic content has been produced today by all of our reporters, and this Storify represents only a slice of that. Please explore the hashtags and citizenrelay.net for...continue reading

It’s weird, watching the torch (or, the flame of the torch, as there are many torches – torchi?) wind its way around the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and for some unexplained reason Eire. Is that last one something to do with Bono. It’s always something to do...continue reading

The torch swung off around the islands today with Islanders contributing to the coverage, and the Citizen Relay bus made up ground on the mainland – covering the stories in Inverness and Tomintoul. [View the story “#citizenrelay Day 4 – Shetland, Orkney, Inverness and Tomintoul” on Storify] #citizenrelay Day 4...continue reading

The below post is cross-posted with permission from Ruth Leith, a torch bearer who ran with the torch in Luss yesterday. So today was one of the most surreal days of my life. I carried the Olympic Torch as part of the relay around the UK. Not something I do...continue reading

The Torch relay powered out of the central belt heading North, and the Citizen Relay bus was alongside – and occasionally in front of – the hoopla. Today’s Storify contains a fascinating blog by Ruth Leith – a torchbearer this morning in Luss – that gives a real insight into...continue reading

There was a real wealth of material from today, and this Storify only represents a portion of all the great material that was created. Furthermore, Storify nearly toppled over with the sheer amount of content even in this cut-down list, so please delve into the hashtags and look back over...continue reading

The torch has arrived in Scotland. Technically, it runs tomorrow. But #citizenrelay got access to the moment the torch arrived in Scotland. In is hoofing rain. Here is a short clip of the mainstream media getting their shot – which was livestreamed before the BBC even had a chance to...continue reading

CHILDREN from a school in Maybole have been learning how to be reporters in time for the Olympic Torch Relay visit to their town on Friday. The primary 5, 6 and 7 pupils from St Cuthbert’s Primary have received some lessons in journalism from UWS Senior Lecturer Elizabeth McLaughlin. Elizabeth,...continue reading

The #citizenrelay bus will be spending two days in Inverness whilst the torch ‘kisses’ Shetland, Orkney and Lewis. We will be running a working news room from the city centre (location to be confirmed today) and covering the evening celebrations. It will be then set out from Aviemore on Monday...continue reading

There is only 2 days until the #citizenrelay leaves its home in Paisley and makes it way down to welcome the torch as it arrives on Scottish soil on the evening of the 7th June. We are now positioning our ‘Glasgow to Inverness’ Reporters in places along the June 9th...continue reading

There is only 2 days until the #citizenrelay leaves its home in Paisley and makes it way down to welcome the torch as it arrives on Scottish soil on the evening of the 7th June. We are now positioning our Glasgow and the West Reporters in places along June 8th...continue reading

In exactly a week, the Olympic Torch Relay will be in Glasgow after having travelled up from Stranraer in the morning. There’s a lot to organise before then and #citizenrelay coordinators David and Jen provide a quick update on what’s happened over the last week. This includes exciting discussions with...continue reading

As the global village links us together the urge for an identity that roots us more locally (by country, by region or by affiliation with other like-minded people) seems to grow ever stronger. In the UK we have a bewildering range of different identities created by our complex history. An...continue reading

A lot has happened in the last week, momentum is picking up now the torch is on UK soil and we are seeing reporters from all around the country start to upload their content to the #citizenrelay site. Back at #citizenrelay HQ, we decided to reflect on the last week...continue reading

We were joined by John Coster, Editor of Citizen’s Eye and Adam Perry from Newsnet in Manchester on Friday for the #media2012 catch up and the #citizenrelay hack-day event during Future Everything.continue reading

Last week some of the #citizenrelay team were in Manchester at Future Everything for the #media2012 pre-games meeting (we are the Scottish hub of the project) to present on what we have been up to so far – and to hear what the other hubs were up to in preparation...continue reading

If you took part in one of our training sessions in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh over the last few days, you would have experienced a session on interviewing using audio and video without the need to edit from Adam Perry from Newsnet, an exciting community journalism project and resource...continue reading

CitizenRelay is a participatory project which relies on the involvement of people from across Scotland to effectively report on the untold local stories and creative ways that Scotland’s citizens are interacting with the Olympic Games. There are a number of ways that you can become involved and join the project....continue reading

Here is a great piece of collaborative work from the Dundee Camcorder Club. On day 25 they spread themselves out over Dundee and Angus to record the torch passing through. The participating members were: Brechin – Angela Hamper, Cupar – Don Ellis Dundee – Norma Dow, June Stewart, Jimmy Smith, Pat Lawrence, John Christie, Alex... continue reading

You can now listen again to Camglen Radio’s live coverage of the torch relay passing through Rutherglen on the 8th June, 2012. Speakers include local politicians and the Lord Provost. The programme was aired with our partners, Duncanrig Radio. Image credit: Don Perry, Camglen Radio Camglen Radio – Torch relay coverage – Fri... continue reading

Following on from Violet Palaks video interview with Belinda Langlands ( also on this site ) here’s a picture and a link to further images by Belinda. Belinda went to Forfar and then back to Dundee to see the torch bearers and then created these pieces. See the others here: http://2012olympictorchrundrawingsbelindalanglands.wordpress.com/ continue reading

Earlier today, Jennifer Jones and Cameron King were interviewed by pupils on Duncanrig Radio about the #citizenrelay project. Interview with Citizen Relay’s, Jennifer Jones and Cameron King by Radioduncanrig on Mixcloud continue reading

St Cuthbert’s Primary 6 pupil Toni McLaughlin met up with Jim Montgomerie, a charity runner known as the “Running Kilt” who was one of the lucky ones to carry the Olympic Flame through the streets of Maybole. Toni was one of the citizen sports journalists on the day and was taught by the UWS Sports... continue reading

Partners, Duncanrig Radio interviewed Torchbearer, Mary Finlay earlier in the week. They had previously interviewed her, which can be heard here. Follow up interview with Olympic torchbearer, Mary Finlay by Radioduncanrig on Mixcloud continue reading

Hi, I’m Ellie and this is my story of my amazing experience as an Olympic torchbearer. I was lucky enough to be nominated and selected by Coca-cola because I coach a mini handball team, play handball for the Scottish Youth Team and have also raised money for the Marie curie in memory of my Granny... continue reading

#CitizenRelay is a participatory project which relies on the involvement of people from across Scotland to effectively report on the untold local stories and creative ways that Scotland’s citizens are interacting with the Olympic Games. We will be following the Olympic torch in the #citizenrelay bus from the 7th June onwards as it makes its way through Scotland. Read more details here.

We have recruited interns across Scotland to help us manage teams of citizen reporters based in hubs around the activity points of the torch relay, we also are on the look out for stories and leads, individuals and communities, organisations and physical spaces to join us in the story-telling process on and off the route. If you are interested or have an idea to share, get in touch.